Record Attendance Expected at Expo Jamaica Tradeshow

Record attendance by local and international buyers is expected at the 2025 Expo Jamaica Tradeshow, to be held April 3 to 6 at the National Arena and the National Indoor Sport Complex, in Kingston

The 49th staging of this flagship event will provide a dynamic platform to showcase the best of Jamaica’s manufacturing and export sectors.

Addressing Thursday’s (February 27) media launch of the event at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel in Kingston, Industry, Investment and Commerce Minister, Senator the Hon. Aubyn Hill, commended organisers, the Jamaica Manufacturers and Exporters Association (JMEA), in partnership with Jamaica Promotions Corporation (JAMPRO) and other stakeholders, for the production of the highly anticipated tradeshow.

“The Expo is ready to do extraordinarily well… . All the sponsors, many of [the Ministry’s] agencies, led by JAMPRO, are supporting you,” he said.

“I am very happy to see [a diverse range of private-sector entities sponsoring this event]. The private sector is vital to this economy,” the Minister added.

He pointed out that in 2024, Jamaica’s total exports reached approximately $2.2 billion.

“It is the highest export figure in decades. It is a very good figure, but I am not nearly satisfied, because our imports are [approximately] $5 billion, so we have a long negative trade balance, which this Expo, as it grows, is going to fix because we are not going to get rich selling to only three million Jamaicans,” the Minister said.

“We have to find new markets overseas and the existing ones have to be developed further. But we have to export a lot more to become a lot richer,” he emphasised.

President of JAMPRO, Shullette Cox, in a message read by Vice President of Exports, Sonja Linton, said driven by this year’s theme, ‘Global Partnership, Local Impact: Advancing Jamaica’s Reach’, JAMPRO has established a target to recruit about 700 buyers.

“As at today, we are just about 90 per cent of our target and highly anticipate that we will surpass our target,” she said.

The JAMPRO President said this year, Jamaica will welcome buyers from across the globe from the Caribbean, neighbouring Latin America, including countries, such as Ecuador, Panama, Mexico, Chile, Peru and the Dominican Republic.

“We also look forward to hosting our buyers from North America. Interest from European buyers has remained strong and among the contingent who wish to access Jamaica’s products and services,” she said.

The JAMPRO President noted the significant impact of Expo Jamaica in enabling the Corporation to integrate the country’s global export and investment strategy into a dynamic platform for fostering international partnerships and showcasing Jamaica’s economic potential.

“We are particularly pleased to be welcoming companies from Nigeria, Ghana, Oman, Macedonia and India,” she said.

To date, approximately 300 local buyers have registered for the event.

“[They have indicated an interest in engaging] their local counterparts, fueling business development and improved access to goods and services. This year, we anticipate another historic event with record-breaking participation from exhibitors, buyers and consumers, demonstrating the vibrancy and potential of Jamaica’s manufacturing services and export sectors. This level of engagement highlights and reinforces the global interest in Brand Jamaica and Jamaican goods and services,” the President said.

Expo Jamaica is the largest exhibition and tradeshow in the English-speaking Caribbean. The event plays a critical role in fostering global trade relationships, driving exports, and positioning Jamaica as a key player in the international marketplace.